"That
feels good", stated
a blushing Jarome Iginla
as he donned his
familiar white Calgary
Flames jersey and stood
up to the podium to a rousing
cheer at a Saddledome
press conference this
afternoon.

Just
under 16 hours earlier,
at roughly 10 pm. on
Thursday night Calgary
GM Craig Button and a
very jet lagged Don
Meehan put the finishing
touches on Iginla's new
two year deal.

The
deal calls for 5.5
million this season, a
number closely
resembling the Flames
offer made public in the
Calgary Sun in August.
The second year inches
closer to the demands of
the Iginla camp, coming
in at an even 7.0
million U.S..

The
deal's bonus structure
featured a $500,000
signing bonus, consistent
team incentives, and
additional personal
incentives for figuring
in any of the league's
five major awards ($400
thousand for a first
place finish, $200
thousand for second, and
$100 thousand for a
third place finish).

"My
job was to paint a clear
landscape for my
client", Don Meehan
told Calgarypuck.com,
"to give Jarome an
idea of what he could
make on the open market.
We could have taken a
very aggressive
stance."

"But
that wasn't where Jarome
wanted to go, he knew
Calgary couldn't be in a
position to accommodate
those levels".

"Jarome
had a mandate from the
beginning ... and that
was to stay in Canada,
and particularly
Calgary. He has a deep
respect for Calgary
ownership".

The
event had the feeling of
a new edition to the
Calgary Flames, a new
superstar added to the
team, even though the
pomp and ceremony was
aimed at a player that
was and still is a
Calgary Flame.

"Jarome
mentioned how relieved
he was", stated GM
Craig Button, "but
I don't think anyone in
this room could be more
relieved than I am right
now".

"Listen,
were talking about a guy
who sits third in the
league in goal scoring
over the last three
years, behind Jaromir
Jagr and Pavel Bure",
Button pointed out to
Calgarypuck.com,
"Jarome is one of
the game's best
players".

When
asked if additional
bonuses would come his
star player's way should
an all star game
appearance be in the
works, Button shook his
head to say no, but then
uttered, "but he
had better be an all
star!".

Yes
indeed ... for 13
million over two seasons
the pressure is now on
Iginla to produce.
Produce individually,
but also take his team
to the next level, the
playoffs.

"We
have some great fans in
Calgary, when you look
at other teams that have
missed the playoffs five
or so years, they don't
get the same support.
The fans here care, they
are involved",
suggested the man of the
hour, Iginla.

"I
hope they come out and
buy season tickets, so
we can win
together".

Ah
yes, the bottom line,
ticket sales.

For
the better part of five
months the issue in
Flame-land has revolved
around season ticket
sales. Many have
suggested the signing of
a star player is the
only variable needed to
open the flood gates on
a rash of new support
for the club.

"Lets
just say the phones are
ringing", said
president Ken King.

"This
is literally gas on the
fire. September and
October are harvest
season for hockey teams,
it's the time when many
people step up to the
plate."

"We
have 10,280 season
ticket holders as of
10:00 AM this morning,
and that's without
knowing who was on the
team".

For
the Calgary hockey fan,
attention can no return
to the sport's intended
target, the ice, and
away from bank accounts,
collective bargaining
agreements, agents,
small market woes, and
currency imbalances.

The
Flames are at full
strength, bolstered by
some off season
additions, and free from
any serious distractions
when they hit the ice
next Saturday in
Banff.

Their yearly quest to
climb that playoff
mountain begins soon,
and they won't have to
start their ascent
without their star
Shirpa.

"Our
goal is to make the
playoffs, and then do
well in the
playoffs" said
Iginla.

A
formidable goal in the
ultra competitive
western conference, but
a goal made much more
possible with the events
of Friday.